Spark-plug.



G. A. LON

SPARK PLUG.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 2. 1914.

Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

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specification or Letters'Patent. application tied ianuar' a, 1914. Serial No. 809,908.

Patented '0 ct.

To all whom it may concern v Be it known that I, Gnome A. Lone, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful In'i"rove1nents in Spark- ,tion. This invention relates to s arlr plngs, the object of the invention bei g to provide an article of this character which is simple in construction, eii'ective in action and which is'longer-lived than those now in general use but which ispra'ctically no-more expensive.

In the drawings accompany ng 'and' forming part of the present specification I have shown in'detail one of the several convenient forms of embodiment ofthe invention which to enable those skilled in the art to practice the same will be set forth fully in the following description. I do not restrict m self to this showmgyl may depart there rom in several respects'within the scope of the invention defined description. 5 v

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spark-plug involving my invention. Fig, 2 is a longitudinal central sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the lug, and, Fig. t is a transverse section on the line H of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Like characters refer to like parts through out the several views.

A spark-plug embodying my invention comprises conductors insulated from each other, and arranged in sets, the conductors of the respective sets being separated to provide spar gaps in conjunction with means whereby current can be directed through any one set of conductors. I do not restrict myself to any particular construction, al-

though ordinarily I prefer that the spark plug comprise a body member and an insulating member set therein, the insulating member being provided with a group of c0nductors, while the body member has a corre sponding number of conductors cooperative respectively with those on the. insulating member. In combination with the several conductors is provided switch means and means whereby the switch means can be put intoelectrical connection ordinarily at will with any desired conductor on the insulating member. A plug such as the foregoing can be used in any connection where those of ordinary kind are now used.

by the claims following said With the foregoing general observations I will refer more in .detail to the'showing made by the annexed drawings. The body member is denoted b 2 consisting as shown of'a shell to receive t 1e insulating member 3, the lower end of which as illustrated extends short of the corresponding end of the body member, while the upper end of which extends through and beyond the upper open end of the body member, which as represented has fitted into it a nut 4: to clamp the insulating member 3 in place. The body member may as illustrated be provided with external threads 5 to mount it in place and may have the polygonal portion 6 to facilitate such ,mounting. The foregoing is a brief description of the body member and insulating member -of a familiar type -of plug. An other equivalent parts might be substitute therefor, the invention not conoerning these or like details but residing rather in certain broad relations as already intimated, and will be more clearly expressed in my claims.

The conductors to which I have alluded may be of any d'sirable character and number. Thebody is shown as equipped with three of such conductors each denoted by 7 and consisting of a rod extending entirely through and beyond the lower end of the insulating member 3, the upper ends of the conductors or rods 7: having semi-spherical heads 8, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. The body 2 is furnished with a corresponding number of conductors 9 of approximately L-shape,the shanks of the conductors being fitted in bores in the lower edge of the metal body 2, while their branches are bent toward the lower projecting ends of the complemental conductors 7 Each conductor 7 is. separated from its companion conductor 9 b a gap. The conductors thus far descri "d are in themselves not new, although I believe it is new with me to arrange longitudinally extending conductors as 7 eccentrically of an insulating member.

Thevconductors 7 are adapted to be connected in desired order with a source of electrical-energy such as a battery in any desired 'manner, manually operable switching the top of the insulating member 4:. It should be stated that this insulating member can be made of porcelain or any of the compositions now ordinarily utilized for making such parts. Surrounding the metallic sleeve 11 is the collar 12 of insulating material such as fiber, this collar being rotative onthe sleeve 11 which acts as a suitable pivot for the collar.- The collar 12 as shown is counterbored in its under side as at 13 to receive the top portion of the insulating member 3. The sleeve 11 is furnished with an outwardly extending head 14 in the form of an annular flange which overlies the collar 12 and which acts to clamp the collar 12 in place, the sleeve in turn being clamped in place by me nut 15 threaded onto the upper endof the stud or screw 10. Around this stud or screw 10 may be coiled the bared portion of a lead wire which can be clamped solidly in place and in electrical connection with the sleeve 11 or its head 14: by the nut 15. Opening into the upper surface of the collar 12 and into the counterbore 13 is a bore 16 which receives in it the cylindrical plug members 17 and 18 between which is interposed the coiled spring 19 which tends constantly to separate the two plug members 17 and 18. These plug members with the intermediate protractile spring present a switch device for electrically connecting the sleeve 11 or equivalent parts with a desired conductor 7 on the rotation of the collar 12 lower plug member 17 has a cavity 20 to receive in alternation the semi-spherical heads 8 at the upper ends of the rods 7 to thus prevent accidental movement of the'collar and therefore breaking of the circuit when a plug member is in electrical contact with a conductor as 7.. In Fig. 2 the cavity 20 is sho'wn as receiving the head 8 of a conductor 7 or that conductor at the left in said view, by virtue of which if there be a lead wire connected with the stud' or post 10 the current will flow from the wire to the post, sleeve 11, plug member 8, spring 16, plug member 17 the conductor 7 in question, the coiipcrating conductor 9 and body member 2 to ground. By turning the collar 12 the plug member 17 can be putinto electrical connection with another of the conductors 7 As already observed the present plug is capable of use in many connections,'although it is of particular utility when used on the engine of an automobile. It frequently. happens that one burns out a spark plug on the road, and in this event has to run his car on less than all the cylinders. By cutting out terminals that may have become useless from any cause, such as breaking of the insulating member 3 or a collection of retuse'in a spark gap, a fresh set of terminals may be cut in As shown the" gaging member and provided with switch means tor successively engaging the conductors on the movement of said movable insulating member.

2. A spark plug comprising a body, an

sulating member in said body, provided with, several conductors, a second insulating mem ber supported by the first insulating mem ber and provided with switch means, the two insulating members being connected for relative movement to cause the switch means to successively engage said conductors on said relative movement.

3. A spark-plug comprising a body, an insulating member in said body provided with a number of conductors a rotary member on the insulating member, and switch means for successively engaging the conductors'on the insulating body on the turning of said rotary member.

t. A spark-plug comprising a body, an insulating member in said body provided with a number oi conductors, a rotary insulating part on said insulating body provided with switch-means for successively engaging the conductors on the body on the turning of said rotary part, and an electrical conducting device in constant electrical connection with said switch-means.

5. A spark-plug comprising a body. an insulating member in said body, provided with a number of conductors, an insulating member supported for rotation by said other insulating member and having switch-means to successivelyengage the conductors onv the body on the turning oi said rotary insulating member, a stud connected with and extending from the first mentioned insulating member, a sleeve surrounding the stud and inclosed by the rotary insulating member,

said sleeve being oi conducting material and having a flange overlying and constantly onsaid switch-means, and a nut threaded onto the stud, the nut being adapted to bind a lead wire against said flange: I

lntestimony whereof I alliX my signature in presence of two witn csscs. V

GEORGE AJLONG. lVitnesses:

F. E. Annnnsou, L. L. MARKEL. 

